By Aftermath
Publication Date: 2026-08-20 20:19:00
Ever since Microsoft laid off 1,600 employees and—in the process—kicked multiple studios to the curb, there’s been uncertainty about how the split will impact games originally published under its increasingly shaky umbrella. Now, in at least one case, we know: Compulsion, the studio behind South Of Midnight and We Happy Few, now wholly owns its intellectual properties; if you purchase a Compulsion game, Microsoft won’t see a cent of it.
Compulsion CEO Guillaume Provost clarified the terms of its breakup with Microsoft to GamesBeat:
“I can confirm we have regained ownership of our IP, and that the publishing rights are transferring back to Compulsion. It’s just that there’s a transition period where that happens with different platform holders,” he said. “Buying the games is supporting the studio as a result of that change.”
This was a matter of some debate, as some major video game websites suggested that people were free and clear to purchase South Of…
